Foot-control device for automobiles.



J. A. STAPLES. FOOT OONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIOATION YILED MAY 2,19\3 1,103,095. Patented July 14,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

ymron W KSL'W W 5&1 MRAZ PM W .4 TTURNEY 5 J. A. STAPLES. FOOT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APYLIOATIOH FILED MAY 2, 19B}.

' Patented July 14, 1914p .wkwlpmflq ATTORNEY 8.

UNITE JOHN ATKINSON STAPLES, QF NEWZBURGH, YORK.

FOOT-CONTROL DEVICE For: ktrroiviosrnns.

1 Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedJuly 14, 1914..

Application filed May 2,1913. Serial No. 7cs,090.--

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. STAPLEs,-a citizen of the United States,- residing at Newburgh, in the county of Orange and State of New York,' have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Com trol Devices for Automobiles; and I do hereby declare the followin to be afull, clear, and exact description oi the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art'ito which it appertains to makeand-lisethesameii 'm wit. n;

My invention consists in the novel fea' tures hereinafter described," reference be ing had to the accompanyingtdrawings which show one embodiment of the-ainv'en-r: tion selected by me for purposes-offiilliistration and slight-modifications thereotaand said invention is 'fully disclosd=in thewfollowing description and claims: I "Eli-1r Referring 'to the said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view partly'in sectio'nioi; an embodiment of my invention selectedby me for-purposes of illustration, applied to the tlooringhof an automobile, which is shown -'broken away. Fig. 2 is atop plan: View of the parts shown in Fig.-' 1. .=:-Fig. 3 is a sectional viewof the same, the position ofthe operators foot being illustrated in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan:

view of the torsional pedal the positions 00',.

cupied by 'feet of different sizes and shapes" being indicated in dotted lines. Figr5 is a side elevation of the pedal, also showing in dotted lines the positions of the foot of various sizes, with respect thereto." Fig'. 6 is a horizontal section through line 6-6'Of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view of thedeviees' for securing relative adjustment between the pedal, and the devices connected with-the part to be controlled." Fig. 8 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of pedal-elm bodying my invention. on-line 7'7 of Fig. 8. Fig.1'10 is a longitudinal sectional view of another modifica-- tion. I

The object of my invention is to provide a foot control device for'automobiles capable of being-operated by the foot of the oper ator,. in which the entire weight and pressureof the foot'is supported'at all times by the pedal or foot piece, and the adjacent flooring, and in which the foot piece is so constructed that it can be used by any one regardless of the size or shape ofhis or Fig. 9 isa section her foot, or shoex 'The apparatiis' comprises ia, torsional pd. 1l,'O['---.fOOt piece'consisting of a plate 1 of less'lengththanthe foot; having a supporting 'surfacel toengage the sole fof the operators foot and lie substantially Zbeneath the ball ofthe f00t. "-'lhe plate 1 iisprovided with a pivotal support, in this instance a pivot stem 2, having its axis substantially beneathythe ball "of thefoot, and

disposed perpendicularly to' the pl aneiofthe lplate 1;.and the plate is suitably connected gtolthe part to b'e eontrolled by' the? device."

In this instance =I have shown the pivot stem rigidly jseeured= tothe' late and rovided; at-

a -series of apertures {t for adjustment, and a link 9''ex't'e uis from one of the' holes fin the arm to'an arm 10 on' a'valv e 12;foi"regu'- ilating the supply 'of-'= e'irplosi've inaterialfl to :jpl'osion m'otor (not" shown) but it is'{0bviou s' }that the devicejlnay' be: conhedt'edf -Wp! any otherform'of mechanism which will control the speed of the 'motor, fand that it may: be

gu'sed'with any desired' character of motor.

:A' s'pring l3 coiinect ed tothe arm 3; and to some? stationary pafrt; as anj-eyej bolt 15"se- Eeured to? :the I frame 14 of 'th'e body of the ivehicle, holds the arm; pedal and valve," or- Zottfer controlled part in' -normalposition Qand Ifprefer toprovide a stop for limiting gthe movementrof the parts under the infiuence' ofthe spring."-' -In*Figs. 2 and 3 1- have'= shown a collarltlon the stem 2,-hav

jing f "stop arm .17 secured;- thereto, and 'ar--' ingror vehicle body. f i he pedalds madeshorter'than the length of the operators foot-so 'asi-to permit-theheel rotth'e' operator to trictionally eng'age the flooring or other adjacent supporting surface in Lrear thereof as indicated in the drawings, thus'permitting the'entire foot of; the operator-to rest solidly'at all times, the

sole portion on'the'peda'l; andthe'heel pot-" gagefiient of the heel with' the flooring hold- 110 n ging or;

ing the; pedal: (and the? part controlled? thereby) in any adjusted position, thus per mitting the utmost refinement of adjustment, as the position of the heel may be varied to any extent from a considerable distance to an almost infinitesimal'one, in either direction. 1 I 4, V

In the 'practicalapplication of a device of this character a serious problem isiprevented: owing to the very wide differences between thesiaes;andshapes of, shoes,,wornby perT: sons .of;. various. sizes, ages and. occupations whomaydrive; cars, or. a particular car.--; It frequently -l1appens that a single car-may: bed iven by, several persons at ditl'erent times duringJ-he same day, 'andit:is desirable to; provide apedal which can be operated by; any one, whether man or woman or child; without the, necessity of; specially adjusting the; contrplggdevtice to accommodatethe foot \vhich is to operate it. .It is alsoivery desir able-to. provide means to prevent the longi tudinal -.movement, of; the foot with respect; to, the pedal and this adds, another compljjcation 5 to the problem. of accommodating the; pedal to ,feet of different shapes andsizes airesult. of study and experimenQ-QI have-devised the-form of pedal herein showni which will accommodate itself. to 'a v e'ry; wide'ra nge,-of feet without .anyaadjustment; whateven- ;.In-,.a'rriving at thehsolution o'f the-problem- I have ascertained that the; part-of the-human footwhich ,varies leastgim lengthand width-is thatupoltion'beneflthgthe= instepmnd Lacoordingly provide the-.pedal with-a; supporting surface-lfiwhich is- .de:'. signed tosupport; theball. ofthe -.footiiof -the ordinary,- individual, and extend slightly-in, rear thereof, and? from the rear end oft-the supporting surface; I provide: ;anupwardly extendingplateor --blade- 20 (preferably;- formed ofuresilient or springamat-erial) of sufficient length'toi extend to and engage. the: fOliWfiId .face of thelheel, and having its rear edge2lstraight; (or slightly-curved upwardtyyfitoengage thfe'heel, close up againstv the under surface of the instep'portion of 1818016, -theupwa rd: inclination of: the blade enabling it to do this,vand the :resilienceio'f. the, blade enabling; it to-accommodate'; itself to a heel'of any height from artennis'origolf shoe which has little or nodefined heel project-ion, to. a ladys; shoe which may have a high-Enenchheel;. "Ih ordentosecure the desired; operative connection between the pedal and. the foot the rearwardly -extending blade is provided; with some meansiorzpositii elycengaging the foot or shoe, and in the: embodiment ofthe inventionxherein shown this con'sistsof an actuating projection inthe form: ofl-anear or. lug 22,: which extendshp Waitdly; frorm-oneside; of: the blade 20:-and also; prdj eots=preferahly in rear of the. edge Zk ofthei. same :This -actuating projeo.

t-iQIi is locate-(011 the. 'pressurepiside-ofi-theg pedal, that is to say the side toward which pressure is exerted to overcome the tension 'of the spring and actuate the controlled valve, rheost-at 'or other device connected with. the plate, In order to maintain the foct in'proper position on the pedal the sole engaging portion 1 is provided on the side opposite'the actuating projection, with-aver tically extendingtretaining projection in the form of an ear or lug 6, which is, therefore, located well forward of the actuating device ,or.projectiionf22.v With this constructionit iw-illgbeiseen thatashoe of any;length, .and shaving-any width .:of sole .can'be placed on jthe pedal soas-to bring one sideiof the sole portion againstit-he-vretaining -projectionw6; iand-rthe frontzedg'e'ofthe heel against the irean-edge-ofzthe yielding-or springblade 20, zand-the lateral'portion of the-foot adjacent tojtlie :inst'ep against the actuating. projection '22t'asitheiprojections 6 and 22 are not opposite each other, and the foot can readily .be placed-.-in operative relation with thei pedal. The blade-QOzwillyieldiif necessary 'to ac-. loogm'nodate wa'riationsdn; the heightaof the arch rforwfard' -of the heel. l --'Jj1tI igs. -4:--and 5; I-have. illustrated :the po- '|sition'1 which would-beroccupied; by--a:fo0t of jmean' size and pi oportion-,:by dotted lines iv, while in dottedaili'nes y, I have shownithe positi oh occupiedl by= a .womans foot-on the f pedal, and: imdotted lines 2 I 'haVe shown the iposition occupied-by a foot or'sh'o'e of'wun -usual-.- 'size:and breadth: of sole, any one of which as'-will be seen will :readily-accommo idateyitsel'f tothe pedal without any adjust imentr'thereofi 'i n '.'-AS Will5be' seencinFig. 4, the difference in ithe sizes: and width of shoes will =cause the ifeetpf the operator to assume different angular':pos itions with-respect to the pedal. @It- 'isualsoa fact that -the feet of different .fpers'ons set differently with respect tothe fleg,ithe ztoe-of. one person naturally inclining- ;ihwardly and of another outwardly. while with a third -the foot may extend directly forward/"In order that the operators foot may assurn'ea perfectly natural andcom lfortable positionon the pedal; and in order tofladapt my. improved pedal to meet the variationszin the set .-of the foot as well as suchzvariations as might. be caused by the relation of --the size of the foot with respect to the pedal, 'I hav'e found it desirable to provide for anadjustment of the pedal, to meetthese conditions. Such adjustment can be provided in several ways. In.my preferred form, I prefer to adjust the-pedal bodily about its axis, with respect to the instrumentalities which communicate the motion-of the'zp'edal to:the-valve or other device to be controlled. For example in Figs. 4 to 7, I

haveshown the pedal adjustable .with respeet tothe supporting-pivot, the pivot 2' being-provided; at its upper end with a eylins drical' so'cket 2 to receive a'boss or projection 2 secured to the lower face of the pedal, the'socket and 'bossfbeing provided with interlocking-devices fcr"enabling the pedal to be set in different angular positions with respect toithe pivot, without disturbing the connections from the said 'pivot to the part tobe c'ontrolled' In' this-inStance the inner face'of the socket is cylindrical-and provided with a plurality of 1 vertically disposed grooves or recesses 2" to receive a vertieal rib Onkey'Q -Qn 'the lateral face of the boss/ Thus sho'uld the' operator find that the-position of -his foot when operatively engaging thepedal is' not a natural and comfortable one, it is only necessary to raise the pedal to disengage the interlocldngdevices of the boss and socket, turn it' {to the right or lefti as the case-may 'be' and' drop itinte position.

- In some instancesi'the actuating ipi-oj ectio of the pedal may "be ma'dei adj ustable witlf respect to the pedal asshown 'iniFigsg' 8' and 9," in which said actuating projection, here lettered 22-,-is carriediby anl'arin 23 (pref erably-wf spring 'materi'a"1)- ivoted to ithel blade 20 -a't 2g apd provided'wlth alo'ckin' 1 f cbnrbinati'o'n fwith a pedal" provided with a stud 25- to engage one i of a; serieso-faadj u'st ing apertures or recesses 26 in the bladef20 The blade or rearwardly Y extending portion is preferably made of spring'oi"--yieldin =ma'-' terial as before stated-and may be ma e integrall with the sole engaging portion} of the pe a1 as' shown Figs; 1 to' 9; inclusive; or separately therefrom asindieated in'fFig.

10. In this figurethe'sole 'engaging'pqrtioni dithe; pedal is shown as a' casting to which? the blade portion-2O is attached by rivets as' showny-or in any other-preferred wayg The' 'construction and operation "of the devioiisly described, I v I In order to reduce'friction'athinfannular vice 'is the same in other respects as pre Elli".

bearing surface maytonveniently' bepro-' vided beneath the pedal, aro'und 'the 'stemas indicated at 30, or any other-form of bearing may be'employed to renderi the operation of the pedal easy, while supporting the entire weight and pressure of the soleof the foot. It will be seen that withthis form of con trol device any person can step into'the aublade portion of the pedal serves to hold the foot against longitudinal movement in both directions with respect to the pedal, as the forward face of the "heel directly abuts againstthe rearedge of the blade,- and the engagement of the inclined blade against the inclined arched portion of the-sole beneath the instep, which inclinesdownwardly and forwardly from the heel, tends to hold the i movement therewith. i

' feet I against" rearward-movement with respectto the'pedalf- What I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent q I 1. 111 a foot operated control device, the combination with a 'pedal,'-provided with a supporting surface to re ceiv'ethe sole portion of-th'e -foot of'the-operato'r, of a'pivotal support for the' pedallocated beneath and hayin'g"its" axis'disposed substantially perpendicularly to the saidsupporting surface,

andmeans-adapted to-conneet the pedal with afi partto be' contr'ol-led, said pedal being of les's -length than the foot to permit the heel of the 'operators' foot to frictionally engage theadfacentfiooring, and to bemoved laterally-lows pircle=co ncentric= with said pivotal I support "to operate said plate without lifting any portion of v the foot, said-pedal having 3 a lateral projection to engage one side of thesole' portionof the-foot, and havare We i orti -ngsurface, opposite said pro- 'structedg -and means for connect j ectifo'n' with the operators foot: for a joint 2. Ina foot operated control device, the

suppor'ting surface} to receive the sole portion-,ofi thefoot of-the operator, of a pivotal support forthepedal located'heneath and having its 4 axis disposed @substantially perpendicularly to the said 'supportinglsurface, andmeansadapted' to-connec't' t e pedal with a part'to be controlled, said pedal being=of less length than the'foot to permit the heel of ith'e'lop'eratorsfoot"to friction'ally en-' pendicularly to the-"said supporting surface, and means adapted to connect the pedal with a part tobe controlled, said pedal being of less length thanthe foot to permit the heel 'of the operators foot to frictionally engage the adjacent flooring, and to be moved laterally on a =circle concentric with said pivotal support to operate said plate without liftihgjany portion of the foot, saidpedal having a projection at one side of its sole engaging portion and an actuating'projection on the opposite side of the pedal located 1 combination with a pedal, provided with a supporting surface to receive the sole portion: ofthe foot ofthe operator, of a pivotal support for the pedal located beneath and, having its axis disposed'substantially perpendicularly to the said supportingsurface; and vmeans adapted, to connect, the pedal ,with a part to be-controlled, said to permit, the heel ofthe operators footto r frictionally engage the adjacent .flooring,

and to bemoved laterally on1acircle conev centric with said pivotal-support to-operate said plate without lifting-anyportion of the foot, said pedal beingprovided with means for preventingthe. longitudinal movement of'the footiwith respect to the pedal; and-having projections-located? at different points longitudinally, pfi'the pedal and 011: opposite sides thereofl-to engage,

the side of the foot -the;upperfsurfaceinfi the pedal opposite eachof saidiprojectionsi being-unobstructed. v i I; 5; In a-i-foot operated control device, the.

combinationwith a pedal provided-Ewith-ia,

supporting surface 1 to receive the sole; por-J tionof; the: foot of the operator, of .a: pivotalsupport; for, the peda l locatedbeneath:

and having; it Q axis idisposed; substantiallyperpendicularly to the said; supporting; sur

face,1; and %means adapted to connect the; pedaliq-w-ith a part, to be controlled, saidl pedal being of less length than: the: foot to; permit: the heel; of the %operator.s -foot, t o frictionally engage the adjacent flooring? and to he moved laterally-on a CiICl :.COI11- centric with said pivotal support to operate said plate without lifting any portion of the foot, said pedal havinga rearwardly extending portion for engaging the front f'aceof'tlie heel, and having itsgsole'engaging-portion provided with a projection at one side thereoftoVengagethe-side of the foot, and said. rearwardly' extending portion-providedw-ith a projection on-the op posite-side to engage the side-of the--foot,

the upper. surface of the pedal opposite-said projections being unobstructed.

(3. In ajfoot operated: control device, the. combination with a pedal provided with a supporting surface toreceive the sole; portion' ofi-the foot of the operator, of-a: piv-- otal support for-thepedal located beneath.

and having its axis disposed substantially perpendicularly to the said supporting surface, and; means adapted' to connect the; pedal with a parhto be controlled-said,- pedal being ofilew; length :than the-foot? toi permit the heel of, the} operators foot;

tofrictionally engage the: adjacent flooring,

Yandito be moved laterally on a circle concentric w-itl'r said pivotal support to operate said plate without lifting any portion of the foot,saidipedal having'a rearwardly extending yielding portion inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the sole engaging portion, toengage the front face of'the heel, beneath the arch of thefoot, and having a retaining projection located atone side ofv the sole engagingiportion and an actuating projection located at 'the opposite side of the saidrearwardlyextendingportion. pedal-being of less lengtlrthan the .foot

v1; Ina foot operated control devicethe combination with a torsionally-ymovahlia pedal, adaptedrto' engage-a; portion-of the bottom; of the-foot of an operator, said pedalbeingggof'less length' than thefoot to permit portionsof. the-foot not engaged theneby-tofrictionally. engage the adyacent flooring, said pedal being provided/with foot positioning .means .f0r ;-connecting it to the-afootiforfjimparting 'atorsionalE move-r ment ftothe pedal ,-aipi;vot;al SllPPOI'UfOl; said-1 pedal ;locatetlnbeneath::the 'same; and sub stantially' ;-=-perpendicular-;:thcreto;i gmeams':

ada t d 1m cQnnectE-the pedali-itoz a'hpant tov be a COIlliI'QllQdzqthGBGbXzand E adjusting; means:

. for yarying the position of said; foot p'osittionmg, means.;;with. respeet-1to; the; axis 9f OSCXllaI'iODPOf the; pedal, when the pedal. 'is

nan rme la' i 8. In 1a ooh; operated; device co mbinatiom; u a to rsionally, v movable;

' pedgahg-adapted ito e'ngage. a portionof the;

bottpn i ofi; then-foot offzam operator-. said pedal: beingmtdess, ;length than: the a foot to: permit portions of, the, foot noti ,engaged thereby to"; frictionallyengagethe adjacent I flooring,l-;said; being provided with foot positioningmea-ns for connecting it to thefoot forimpanting'a torsional movement to the pedal, a pivotali support for said pedal located beneath. the same, and substantially, perpendicular thereto, means adapted to-connect the: pedal to apartto be eontrolled thereby and adjusting'means forvarying -ithe position of the pedal-with respect toits axis of. oscillation; when the pedal is in normal-position. e

9. In afootoperated control device the combination With a torsionally i-movable pod-al ad'apted to'engage a portion of the bottom-ofithe foot of an operator, saidipedal being of lesslengthmhaai the foot to permit portions of the foot'not engaged" therebyto frictionally -;engage the adjacent flooring,- said pedal. being provided with foot positioning means fora-connecting it to,-the;-foot for imparting a: torsional movement; to: thepedal, a-pivotal support for said apedal-lo cated beneath-1 the same, and. substantially perpendicular. thereto,- means; adapted {t0 connect the-;-.pedal to apantctoibecontrelled.

thembp 1 and means; foe adjusting the. pedal about its axis of oscillation with respect to the said connecting means, to vary the normal posit-ion of the pedal.

10. In a foot operated control device the combination with a torsionally movable pedal, means for connecting it to the foot of the operator for imparting a torsional movement to the pedal, a rotary supporting device for said pedal, means adapted to connect said rotary device to the part to be con trolled, said pedal and said rotary part being provided with interlocking adjusting devices for varying the normal position of the pedal.

11. In a foot operated control device the combination with a torsionally movable pedal, means for connecting it to the foot of the operator for imparting a torsional movement to the pedal, a rotary supporting device for said pedal, means adapted to connect said rotary device to the part to be con trolled, said pedal and said rotary part being provided, the one with a socket and the other with a part fitting said socket, said socket and its engaged part being detachable, and provided with interlocking adjusting devices for varying the normal position of the pedal.

12. In a foot operated control device, the combination with a pedal provided with a supporting surface of less extent than the bottom of the foot, and provided with lateral foot engagin devices located in dif ferent transverse p anes longitudinally of the pedal and on opposite sides of the same, the surface of the pedal opposite each of said devices being unobstructed, to accommodate feet of different sizes, a pivotal support for the pedal located beneath the same, and having its axis substantially perpendicular thereto, means adapted to connect the pedal to a part to be controlled thereby and means for adjusting said pedal with respect to said connections to vary the nor mal position of the pedal.

13. In a foot operated control device the combination with a pedal provided with a supporting surface of less extent than the bottom of the foot, and provided with lateral foot engaging devices located in different transverse planes longitudinally of the pedal and on opposite sides of the same, the surface of the pedal opposite each of said devices being unobstructed, to accommodate feet of different sizes, an oscillating pivot shaft for supporting the pedal devices adapted to connect said pivot shaft to the part to be controlled, and means for adjusting said pedal in a rotary direction with respect to said pivot shaft.

14. In a foot operated control device the combination with a pedal provided with a supporting surface of less extent than the bottom of the foot, and provided with lateral foot engaging devices located in different transverse planes longitudinally of the pedal and on opposite sides of the same, the surface of the pedal opposite each of said devices being unobstructed, to accommodate feet of different sizes, an oscilating pivot shaft for supporting said pedal, devices adapted to connect said pivot shaft with the part to be controlled, said pedal and said shaft being detachable and provided with interlocking adjusting devices.

15. In a foot operated control device the combination with a pedal provided with a supporting surface of less extent than the bottom of the foot, and provided with lateral foot engaging devices located in different transverse places longitudinally of the pedal and on opposite sides of the same, the surface of the pedal opposite each of said devices being unobstructed to accommodate feet of different sizes, an oscillating pivot shaft for supporting said Pedal, devices adapted to connect said pivot shaft with the part to be controlled, said pedal and said shaft being provided the one with a boss and the other with a socket detachably fitting said boss, said boss and socket having interlocking adjusting devices for varying the relative positions of the pedal and said pivot shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

J OIIN ATKINSON STAPLES.

Witnesses:

LINDA M. STAPLES, ELIZABETH MAGEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

